Avatar is all the rage tonight at the Oscars, but here’s an analysis not seen on TV:

“Do we really see each other?” This, to me, was the central theme posed by the sci-fi movie, Avatar – the story of Jake, a paraplegic marine war veteran, who takes on a mission to the planet Pandora. His mission: to become an avatar (a genetically-created hybrid of human and native DNA) within the culture in order to collect intelligence on the planet’s humanoids and to get the native Na’vi to leave willingly. The reason: so the planet can be stripped of a rare and expensive mineral that could cure the earth’s energy crisis. In exchange for the deed, he is bribed with surgery to fix his legs. What he doesn’t count on in becoming one of them, is that he begins to understand and appreciate their culture.

In this economy, people often don’t feel they have enough funds to make ends meet, let alone make a difference in the world. But the National Public Radio (NPR) fund drive is just another reminder that it is the commitment of individual donors giving anywhere from $5-125 combined with larger donations that collectively help it meet its goals year after year.

In the same way, Outreach International relies on those consistent, monthly gifts to help people most in need, and is fortunate enough to have donors who have supported those in need throughout its 30-year history. But we are also thankful to have support from those individuals who are creatively exploring other philanthropy options.

If you are reading this blog, you probably possess a greater than average sensitivity to contemporary social issues. You care about this world and the people inhabiting it. One facet of these issues that often goes unexamined by even the sensitive is the relationship between charity and dignity. Outreach International addresses this issue first. There is no shame in being poor.

Having been born disabled, I have a special relationship to pity. I have legitimate medical needs that are visually apparent. I get about with the use of a wheelchair. Some people see the chair and feel pity. Their concern comes from an honorable place, but I have no use for pity. Those who have meant the most in my life have worked with me to create my own solutions.

This Sunday, I am preaching on the theme, “The Beauty of Discomfort” and I thought it was very applicable to this blog as well.

The scripture for the talk comes from Luke 4:1–13, the story of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness. What I realized as I was preparing was that these temptations are similar to the ones we face every day.

The Wednesday morning of the Graceland University Nicaragua Winter Term marked the beginning of what was, for many, one of the highlights. Starting at 11:00 am, students departed in pairs, to spend over 24 hours with a family in the community of Santa Lucia. Some were nervous; others excited, but most were a combination of the two.

The opportunity before us was a challenge and a gift. The reality of the challenge may have hit some in the van, others on the hike up the hill and some not until it was time to sleep. For we would be with a Nicaraguan family, with just one other person, for the longest period of time yet. And for those with limited Spanish skills, communication would hardly be easy. But from the moment we arrived in Santa Lucia, it was clear that we were being met with kind smiles and open hearts.

DC is still recovering from the snowiest winter ever. From Snowmaggedon to Snowpocalypse to Snoverkill, we have had way more than our share of snow this winter. (Please, no more snow!) This is the snowiest winter I have ever seen, even after living in Ohio and Iowa all my life!

Yesterday as I, along with many Washingtonians, left the igloo of my home and did chores around the city, I noticed something powerful that I hadn’t seen in this city before—a strong sense of community. People were helping each other dig out their cars, pushing strangers’ cars when they got stuck and shoveling sidewalks in front of neighbors’ homes.

As previously mentioned, the crisis in Haiti dates back to its inception as a French slave colony. This means that the crisis cannot be solved simply by the outpour of donations this past couple weeks for Haiti.

Some have suggested that this means that people in the West shouldn’t donate or that we have donated enough already. This isn’t true either.

However, there are some ways that we make sure that the donations and aid work that is being done now makes a real difference in the long-term.

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In the midst of disaster, it is easy to respond. Haiti is all of a sudden the spotlight of tremendous amounts of emergency relief, volunteer groups, action alerts, pleas for donations and promises from governments around the world.

However, we must remember that the crisis in Haiti didn’t start on Tuesday, January 12th around 5pm. It started hundreds of years ago when West Africans were kidnapped from their countries and brought to the other side of the world to live in servitude. As Tracy Kidder points out in his New York Times editorial, the crisis in Haiti continued as Haitians were punished for claiming their freedom from their French colonizers. Since then Haiti has continued to suffer, partly because of aid policies that keep them dependent on foreign assistance.

In response to the terrible earthquake in Haiti, Outreach International, the Community of Christ, and hundreds of other humanitarian organizations are calling on supporters to give generously to those in need.

In times like this there is often a rush of people wanting to jet to the disaster zone and volunteer, or collect clothing, medicines and food to send to the people suffering. This altruistic impulse is praiseworthy and displays the great generosity and charity human beings show in times of trouble. However, not every well-meaning response to a disaster is a good one. In a briefing paper I wrote in light of the Asian Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, I explain how, when responding to a humanitarian disaster, potential donors should keep in mind the following key principles to guide their gift:

Yesterday there was an absolutely devastating earthquake in Haiti that has killed thousands of people and left much of the capital in rubble. It is a tragedy that any country would have such a devastating disaster, but this is even worse in Haiti because of the abject poverty of the country. It is already the poorest country in the Western hemisphere.

What can we do to help?

After sprinting through two airports and nearly missing two connecting flights, our group of 11 students and 5 chaperones made it to Nicaragua the night of Wednesday, January 6th. We traveled here for a Graceland University winter term to learn about a nonprofit organization called Outreach International, and how its community development process is implemented in the field by Alcance Nicaragua.

Some have questioned the commitment of the Obama Administration to international development, especially since the Administrator of USAID has been one of the last political appointments to be filled.

However, this week marks a significant shift in attention on development by the White House. On Wed, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton laid out her plan for a reform of the U.S.’ international development efforts. The next day, the new USAID administrator Rajiv Shah, was sworn in and committed to making aid more effective by focusing on measurable results.

Taking down Christmas decorations, re-reading cards from friends, and taking stock of gifts and gift cards we received, I was reminded of how people celebrate throughout the world and how some gifts and letters really impact our lives. And unlike the decorations, cards and gifts being packed away, I couldn’t help but remember the email we’d received from Ami, one of Outreach International’s field staff in the Philippines.

Well tonight is the night we make New Year’s Resolutions. And tomorrow is the day we start breaking them!

I often make and break New Year’s Resolutions. Actually, I am not quite sure why I make them. I think I am attracted to the concept of a particular occasion to make a change. Even though I know that January 1st is not any different than December 31st, I like the symbolism of a new year. But why don’t I actually stick to my resolutions? I guess that stems from a lack of commitment.

International leaders are leaving two weeks of climate negotiations fairly disappointed. They didn’t even meet the lowest of their expectations from the negotiations. However, they are leaving having “taken note” of a tentative, non-binding agreement reached by 5 world powers: the US, China, India, South Africa and Brazil.

No one really fared well in this weak agreement. But I am especially worried about the poorest of the poor that are the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. How did they fare?

Most people, teachers and schools couldn’t see the potential in Michael Oher. Like many other children in the world who lack opportunity, he also lacked pretty much any documentation that said he even existed. And the few school documents that could be produced indicated a boy incapable of learning. This combined with his inability to communicate his thoughts or wishes and a tendency to keep his head down and eyes lowered – in spite of his 6’5” frame and 300+ weight in ninth grade – had made him practically invisible.

I just returned from a 12-day Site Visit to the Philippines. We saw some of the areas that were devastated by recent typhoon flood waters and high winds. We also met many wonderful, friendly Filipino people who bravely shared with us their stories of survival.

The coolest thing we learned is that even with the emergency situation of the flooding and people being displaced from their homes, our Outreach Philippines staff was able to utilize the Participatory Human Development Process to deal with the relief work.

The Obama Administration has decided against signing the landmine ban treaty, which is supported by over 150 countries worldwide. Landmines and similar devices kill and injure over 5,000 people a year, mostly in developing countries, and pose a major obstacle to development.

Today marks World AIDS Day—a day dedicated to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic which led to the deaths of over 2 million people in 2008 alone. While Obama and his administration have been vocal about their support for ending the epidemic, their actions have not matched their words. As a matter of fact, Obama’s 2010 budget flat-lined funding for PEPAR (the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), while President Bush was increasing funding for the program every year. Because of this flat-lining of funding, several key advocacy organizations have given Obama a D+ on his HIV/AIDS policy.

Yesterday marked the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (although the U.S. still hasn’t ratified the agreement). And yet, there are an unfathomable number of children in our world who continue to go without these basic rights.

The rights of the child identified by this historic agreement are: “the right to survival; to develop to the fullest; to protection from harmful influences, abuse and exploitation; and to participate fully in family, cultural and social life.” (from UNICEF)